After the first four months of successful conquest, Uganda is now seeing an unwanted surge in the numbers of coronavirus infections and Kampala is so much under the microscope.
This morning, in an address to the media, Cabinet Minister for Kampala City Betty Amongi revealed that the ministry has been working closely with KCCA and have identified 58 shopping centers and arcades that are not observing the SOPs and are going to face closure.
From the latest COVID19 statistics courtesy of the Ministry Of Health, Uganda recorded the most cases (98) in a day, and out of these, Kampala alone is contributing 75 contacts and alerts.
By the closure of business on 20th August 2020, the number of infections was at a whopping 1,750. Of these, Kampala recorded 394 COVID-19 infections accounting for 22.5%. In just the last 11 days, Kampala has registered 175 cases out of which 116 are alerts(66.3%), 46 (26.3%) are contacts, 9 (5.1%) health workers, and 4(2.3%) returnees. Kampala now has recorded 221 active cases, whereas the whole of Uganda has 537 active cases representing 41.2%.
“At the time inspection, the fifty-eight arcades below still had weak areas to rectify so as to conform to the standards. The arcades were not observing social distance; with visibly overcrowding nature, no functional toilets, obstruction in corridors, and poor ventilation,” read the statement from Minister Amongi.
These are the arcades that risk immediate closure – Mini Price centre, Boost Complex, Naiga Complex, Tropical Complex, Senna Arcade, Vienna Business Centre and Masaka Jubilee on Ben Kiwanuka Street.
Arcades under serious review for closure – SB Plaza on Burton street; King Fahd, Sun City Arcade on Kampala Road; Lucky Complex on Kisenyi Road; Sserwaniko Music Centre on Kyaggwe Road; Faibah Arcade, City Centre Complex, MM Plaza, Majestic Plaza and Namaganda Plaza on Luwum street.
Arcades with laughable facilities – Freeman Foundation Centre, MBK Spare Centre on Mackay Road; and Energy Centre on Market Street.